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Welcome to the Krewe of Centaur's parade information page. Here you will find some interesting Parade Information, future Mardi Gras & Parade Dates, a description and map of the Parade Route, and a listing of Mardi Gras Terminology that might help you understand what's going on while your in town for the big Krewe of Centaur parade!

Scroll down for the Parade DAY Tips.

After reading this page, if you want more information on the parade or Krewe of Centaur, e-mail the
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.

If you want more information on how to join the Krewe and participate as a member in Shreveport/Bossier City's biggest parade event in history, go to the How Do I Join page.

If you have a specialty parade group that is interested in participating in the Krewe Of Centaur Parade, email the
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or visit the Krewe of Centaur contact us page for additional information.

Parade Information

Parade Date:

February 7, 2015

Fat Tuesday:

February 17,, 2015

Parade Theme:

"Movies, Music and Mayhem"

Starting Time:

4:30 p.m.

Future Mardi Gras and Parade Dates

Year

Krewe of Centaur Parade

Fat Tuesday

2015

February 7, 2015

February 17, 2015

2016

January 30, 2016

February 9, 2016

2017

February 18, 2017

February 28, 2017

2018

February 3, 2018

February 13, 2018

2019

February 23, 2019

March 5, 2019

2020

February 15, 2020

February 25, 2020

2021

February 6, 2021

February 16, 2021

2022

February 19, 2022

March 1, 2022

2023

February 11, 2023

February 21, 2023

2024

February 3, 2024

February 13, 2024

2025

February 22, 2025

March 4, 2025

2026

February 7, 2026

February 17, 2026

2027

January 30, 2027

February 9, 2027

*Parade Dates Are Subject To Change.

Parade Route

Photo: The Times

*** Parade DAY Tips ***

The parade will BEGIN downtown, on Clyde Fant Parkway, at Lake St., and head south bound to Shreveport-Barksdale Highway, where it will continue, westwardly to E. KINGS HWY, where it will again turn south and continue to Preston. The parade ENDS just before Preston where the "Parade End" sign is. Floats will stop throwing at this point. The parade will start at 4:30 pm, RAIN OR SHINE.

Where to get?: Many folks ask "Where is the best spot along the parade route." It's hard for us to tell, we're not watching, we're RIDING in the parade. But, we expect that anywhere along the route you will be able to see the parade and catch some really cool stuff. Historically, Shreve City was absolutely WILD, but that area now has barricades, so in recent years it has become slightly more tame. The last leg of the parade, along E. Kings Hwy., used to be more family and residential oriented, but, has in recent years become more WILD (at least that's the way it looks to us from the floats). The most under-utilized areas in recent years have been ON Clyde Fant Parkway, not AT, but BETWEEN, the major intersections. (so park and do some walking).

Also, do you want a Day Time or Night Time parade experience? Our floats are 'lighted', so you can see the floats in day light or night light. If you watch the parade at the beginning, it will be mostly daylight, throughout the whole parade. If you stand along Shreveport Barksdale Hwy., and in front of Shreve City, you'll get a little daylight and a little night light. If you get near the end (along E. Kings Hwy.), it will be all night time.

(Special Note: Floats will NOT throw, before they cross Lake Street at the beginning, and they will STOP throwing just BEFORE Preston St., where the "Parade End" sign is. If a float STOPS, for whatever reason, throwing will stop, until the float continues on.)

STREETS CLOSE !! : You may want to 'review' the parade route the DAY BEFORE or MORNING OF the parade, to determine what is the best spot for you. But, be aware, that the City - CLOSES THE STREETS - at around 3:00 p.m. ... AND experienced parade goers mark their spot (by tailgating) starting EARLY, the morning of parade day.

RESERVED SPOTS: The City of Shreveport 'leases' spots along E. Kings Highway. You must contact the City about reserving these spots. The Krewe has no control over these. Certainly, they are first come first served, and sell out quickly. (Contact SPAR - Shreveport Public Assembly and Recreation -- http://www.myspar.org/ )

Alcohol Free Zone: The City of Shreveport maintains a family-friendly, alcohol-free zone. This is along Clyde Fant Parkway, from the old railroad trestle, N. to Stoner Ave. You may contact the City for more info. You can get to this area by driving down Stoner Ave, where it intersect with Clyde Fant Parkway.

Street Vendors - Want to sell your wares? The City requires a permit to sell merchandise along the parade route. You need to contact the City for that permit. The Krewe has no authority over this. Try here first: Mark Colwick -
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- ph# 318-673-5595 .

What About the Weather?: The Centaur parade ROLLS - RAIN or SHINE! So, watch the weather report. You may or may not need, warm clothes, an umbrella, or a slicker suit! The only thing that will stop the parade is a declaration of unsafe condtions (hail, excessive lightning, or a natural disaster).

SAFETY: There will be over 200,000 people on the streets during our parade, so we have to pay attention to safety. Don't cross in front or behind the floats (you think we can see you there, but we can't.) We encourage our riders to throw to the BACK OF THE CROWD, so that you don't get too close ... so, don't get too close.

We STOP THROWING, when the parade pauses or stops (the parade will periodically and mysteriously stop and start ... we don't know WHY it does that, but it does, so we use these moments as OUR mini-intermission, where we rest and re-load ... and don't throw.)

(Floats will not START throwing until they cross LAKE ST. at the beginning - they will NOT throw while lined up on Clyde Fant, waiting for the parade to start ... so, don't go to the float staging area on Clyde Fant! The parade ENDS just before Preston St. Don't expect anything at or after this intersection .. the parade has ended ... if you are here, you will have missed it!)

It ain't over till it's over! Occassionally BIG GAPS develop between floats (we don't know why this happens, but it does ... and we work hard each year to avoid it). But, the parade is not over until you see the last float come by with a THE END banner on it, and it'll probably be followed by Fire Trucks and Police cars. (If you haven't counted about 30 throwing floats, it probably ain't over.)

NEVER: Throw anything back at the float. If you don't like what you have, give it to that kid next to you (that you've been stepping on)! (We're giving, and not expecting to receive. Our hands are full and we're not looking!)

DON'T: New trees have been planted in the median along Clyde Fant Parkway. Please DON'T attempt to park you car near one of these new little trees.

ALWAYS: Bring a lawn chair, a sandwich (or more), and an ice chest ... make a day of it. Respect others ... Obey the law ..HAVE FUN!! ... Take time to notice the ART - WORK that we've put into creating each float. (They are done by each individual float's riders and members.) (and think about joining us as a member!)

..... Happy Mardi Gras!

******************************

General Mardi Gras Terminology

BAL (Bal Masque, Tableau Bal) - A masked ball in which scenes representing a specific theme are acted out for the entertainment of club members and their guests, Krewe royalty is traditionally presented during the bal.

BOEUF GRAS (French)- The fatted bull or ox, the ancient symbol of the last meat eaten before the Lent season of fasting.

CALL OUT - The tradition of at the Bal of royalty or members of the Krewe publicly presenting favors to friends in order to honor them; traditionally used in conjunction with a call-out-dance where a Krewe member will present a favor to a lady friend who reciprocates by honoring him with a dance.

CAPTAIN - The absolute leader of a carnival organization.

CARNIVAL - From the latin "Carnivale", loosely translated as "farewell to the flesh"; the season of merriment which begins on Twelfth Night (the feast of Epiphany), January 6, and ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday; the carnival season leads up to the penitential season of Lent in which fasting replaces feasting.

DOUBLOONS - aluminum coin like objects bearing the Krewe's insignia on one side and a theme logo on the other side; first introduced in the 1960 Rex parade in New Orleans; doubloons are also minted and sold as souvenirs in silver, bronze and choisone versions.

FAVOR - a souvenir, given by Krewe members to friends attending the Bal, normally bearing the Krewe's insignia, name and year of issue.

INVITATION - A printed request for attendance at a Mardi Gras Bal; in the 19th century, many invitations were die cut and printed in Paris, France; invitations are non-transferable and it is improper to refer to them as tickets.

KING CAKE - an oval shaped, sugared pastry that contains a plastic doll hidden inside; the person who finds the doll is crowned king and buys the next cake or throws the next party.

KREWE - The generic term for a carnival organization; first used by the Mystic Krewe of Comus which coined the word in 1857 to give its club's name an old english flavor.

MARDI GRAS - Also called "Fat Tuesday", this is the last day of the Carnival season and the day before "Ash Wednesday" the first day of the season of "Lent".

THROWS - inexpensive trinkets tossed from floats by costumed and masked Krewe members; among the more popular items are doubloons, plastic cups and plastic medallion necklaces.

TWELFTH NIGHT - The official beginning of the Mardi Gras Carnival season. Also known as the "Epiphany" (the day the wise men visited the baby Jesus). It is called twelfth night because it is always celebrated twelve days after Christmas, on January 6.